A new patent filing (number 20200285314) hints that FaceID may be finally coming to the Mac. It’s not the first such Apple patent filing, so we’ll see, but I’m betting one of the future “Apple Silicon” Macs will offer the feature.
In the patent filing data, Apple notes that user interaction with devices such as computers [this emphasis is mine] and other electronic computing devices has increased significantly in recent years. Interaction with such devices can be performed using various input devices, such as touch screen displays, touch-sensitive surfaces, remote controls, mice and other input devices.
However, Apple says there are instances where user interaction with the computing devices would be enhanced if the user didn’t physically provide input to the computing devices, but instead the computing devices were to take certain actions autonomously based on user detection such as FaceID. Apple says such a feature is particularly important where input devices are battery-operated.
Here’s the summary of the patent filing: “In some embodiments, an electronic device optionally identifies a person’s face, and optionally performs an action in accordance with the identification. In some embodiments, an electronic device optionally determines a gaze location in a user interface, and optionally performs an action in accordance with the determination. In some embodiments, an electronic device optionally designates a user as being present at a sound-playback device in accordance with a determination that sound-detection criteria and verification criteria have been satisfied.
“In some embodiments, an electronic device optionally determines whether a person is further or closer than a threshold distance from a display device, and optionally provides a first or second user interface for display on the display device in accordance with the determination. In some embodiments, an electronic device optionally modifies the playing of media content in accordance with a determination that one or more presence criteria are not satisfied.”
By the way, Apple Silicon is, per Apple, “world-class custom silicon to deliver industry-leading performance and powerful new technologies.” It involves customized ARM technology, as well as Apple’s own System on a Chip.
